NBDA

2012-13 Cost of Doing Business Study

NBDA 2012-13 Cost of Doing Business Study

This is the 2012-13 version of the NBDA's Cost of Doing Business study, conducted every two years. Specialty bicycle retailers were surveyed in early 2012, with most answering based on the full 2011 calendar year.

This unique research effort for bicycle shops represents the most up-to-date comparative financial performance information available anywhere. This study is designed to serve as an easy-to understand tool for industry firms to evaluate their own company's operating results in order to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, and improvement opportunities.

During the spring of 2012, the National Bicycle Dealers Association mailed a strictly confidential survey questionnaire to all NBDA member firms, as well as a random sample of non-member firms

The survey collected detailed financial and operating information from industry operators by sales revenue size, store type, geographic region, and number of locations.

The NBDA Cost of Doing Business Survey was compiled, tabulated and prepared by Industry Insights, Inc., headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, a professional research and consulting firm which specializes in industry operating surveys, compensation studies, educational programs and customized research services. Completed surveys were returned in strictest confidence through early June, to Industry Insights, Inc. In all, 71 bicycle retailing firms responded to the survey, providing completed and usable questionnaires to Industry Insights for processing. All company identification, if any, was removed from each questionnaire and only a confidential identification code remained. The data was then coded, keyed, and edited by Industry Insights' financial analysts for validity. Computer processing was performed on all data to insure statistical validity and to produce the financial and operating ratios contained in this study.

Using this information, bicycle retailers can compare their own figures with other firms in their revenue category; with other single or multi-store operators; with stores of similar size; with stores of a particular geographic region, and with the high profit firms (i.e., those in the upper 25% based on before tax return on assets). Spotting significant differences between your own store's performance and the industry composites can be the first step toward improving performance. However, deviations from industry norms do not automatically call for some action.

To use this report, determine which of the above data groups pertain to your operation so that you can compare your own store's results to retailers that are comparable to your own. Be concerned only with those sections of the report that are relevant to your business.